Continuous ceramic furnace



plfl 9 w29 J. A. bEDoUcH USJIQ'T;

Y coNTINoUs CERAMIC IVURNACEl Y Filed, April 22 1927 a sheets-snee@ 1 l pmll 9, H929. J. A. DEDoucH CONTINOUS CERAMIC FURNACE HSZ@ Filed April 22, 1927 2 Sheets-S/heet Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

Pita' "r er1# JOSEPH A. DEDOUCH, F OAK SPARK, ILLINOIIS.'`

C ONTINUUS CERAMIC FURNACE.

Application filed April 22, 1927. Serial No. 185,735.

vThis invention relates to continuous ce-v ramic furnaces, and the like, particularly of the inutile type. and is fully described in the,

following specification and shown in the aecompanylng drawings 1n which:

Figure 1 1s a longitudinal elevation of the furnace showing the heating-chamber in sec Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the furnace proper showing the upper portion in raised position;

Fig. 3 is a broken section on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section 'of the coupling for securing the ends of the wire conveyor;

Fig. 5 is a top pla-n view of a modified forni of the furnace: and

Fig. (is a side elevation of the saine.l

The embodiment shown in'Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive comprises a small enamelling furnace consisting essentially of upper and lower furnace-sections and 11 having a mtimechamber 12 extendinglongitudinally therethrough together witlra conveyor consisting of two or more parallel wires 13 extending through this munie-chamber and passing over pulleys 14 and 15 which are geared together by means of a chain 16 and suitable sprockets 17. The pulley 1-1 is driven by means of a sprocket 1S and a chain 19 from the sprocket 9.0 which is suitably geared to a motor Q1, or other suitable source of power. The wire 13 is continuous and is crossed on the lower strand 13 and is held in suitable guides Z13"` and runs over a grooved roller 13Cv for spacing the wires 13. An anti-friction mounting is used for the roller'13.

The furnace proper consists of upper and lower sections 10 and 11, each section being hollow and provided with lateral openings 10a and 11a which are in registration' with the fuel-burners 10.b and 11.* when the upper section is in the lowered position.

A; In Figs. y2 and 3, however, the upper section is shown in the raisedpostion.

The lower section is carried upon a frame Q2 which' carries-.a bracket 23 upon which is pivotally mounted a lever 24, the 4end ofI which engages an eye which is carried by a fra-me Q6 which. in turn, carries the u per furnace-section 10. Clips 27 0n the pper furnace-section 10 are slidable upon guides .preferably of 28 carried by the lower section so as to guide the upper section when it being raised and lowered. P

The lower section has a heating-chamber 29 which has an opening 30 which registers with an opening 31 (Fig. 3) in the upper section when the upper section is in lowered position.

In operation, the furnace is lighted and heated to the desired temperature. During this time, the pulleys 14 and 15Mare set in operation so as to keep the wire 13 in motion through the furnace so that it will not become unduly heated at one point. This wire is nichrome steel and keeps its rigidityT even when red hot.

In Fig. 4 is shown a coupling 3:?. slightly larger than the wire 13 and having an opening 33 at one side neari'ts center. y The ends of the wire 13 are pushed through the tube 32 which Yis slightly larger than the wire itself. These ends are then upset, orriveted, at 13a so as to prevent their withdrawal from'the tube 32.- Uwing to the fact that the opening is slightly larger than the wire .a certain amount of flexibility is permitted. This coupling has been found to meet the difficult conditions under which the wire operates in this furnace.

After the furnace has attained the desired temperature., Small articles to be glazed or enamelled are placed upon the wires 13. which carry them through the mtime-Chain- Aber 12 of the furnace and the speed of the wires is such as to subject them to the desired temperature for the required lengt-h of time to complete' the enamelling operation. As they pass out of the furnace, they are removed from the wires 13. Thus, in passing through the furnace. the articles to be enanielled do not. come in Contact with any parts of the furnaceother than the wires 13 on which they rest.

lin Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a modified form of the furnace in which 34 and 35 are furnaces /which may be of the type described.

Through these pass parallel metalbands 36 `and 37 which overlie each other and which pulleys 38 and 39. The band 37 1 pass over the lies outside the band 36 on the flanged ypulleys 38 and 39 and is separated therefrom by means of pulleys 37a. There the work to be carried is quite light, the driving maybe speeds as they pass thrlengh the furnace.

done entirely by the pulley 38, the pulley 39 serving merely as an idler.' 'If desired, these ctwo may bev geared togetherv as by means of 'Ihis difference is so slight as to be practically negligible. These bands, however, are

quite deep so as to add stiffness. In this Way,

i vefficient form of furnace is'provide and onel articles of considerable Weight may be carried v vby these parallel bands through the furnace. It Willalso be obvious that liatbands like 37 may be run over the horizontal pulleys 14 for certain kinds of work. Thus, it will beseen that a very simple and L which is capable of being modified to adapt it for. a wide range of uses.

The pulley 15 is mounted-on supports 50 carried on'a slidablebase 51 adapted to be adj usted horizontally by the adjusting screw 52 Working through the nut 53. Such horizontal adjustment of the base` 51 on which the pulley 15 is mounted provides takeup means to take up the slack in the conveyor'elements and the chain 16.

lhile I have shown and described but a few embodiments, it is to be understood that closed in the appended claims in whichv my invention is to claim the invention as broadly as possible, in view of theprior art.

I claim:

1 In combination, a ceramic 4furnace hav- .ing a heatlng chamber, and parallel conveyor elements, having a flat cross-section, the long axis ofthe section being vertical,'mova'ble through said heating chamber at substantialy tle same speed for carrying objects to ybe 2. In combination, a ceramic furnace having a straight horizontal heating chamber I. having two lsections divided horizontally,

means for readily lifting the upper section,

and parallel' conveyor elements movableV through said heating chamber `at substantially the same speed for carrying objects to be fired.

3. In combination, a ceramic furnacehaving a heating chamber, and parallel conveyor elements movablethrough said heating chamber at substantially the same speed for carrying objects to be fired, said conveyor elements being unsupported within said urnace.

4. Inncombination, a ceramic furnace having a heating fchamber, and an integral conon the conveyor, sai

tinuou's parallel conveyor element having a plurality of turns movable through said heating chamber at substantially the same speed for carrying objects to be fired,` l. I I

.5. In combination,a ceramic furnace having a heating chamber composed of two sections divided horizontally, a lever for raising and lpwering the upper section, pulleys at f' opposite ends of said furnace, and flexible parallel conveyor'elements passing around said pulleys and driven thereby, said elements passing through said heating chamber at substantially the same speed for carrying objects to be fired. .i y

6."In combination, a ceramic furnace having a heating chamber, pulleys at opposite yends of said furnace, flexible one-piece intei r l gral parallel conveyor elements passing and 15 if deslred. Th1s may be preferablel ing objects to be fired, and means for-drivinor both said pulleys. l

' In combination, a ceramicfurnace having a heating chamber, pulleys at opposite ends of said furnace, flexible one-pieceintegral parallel conveyor/ elements passing around said pulleys and driven thereby, said elements passing through said heating chamber at substantially the same speed for 'carrying objects to be fired, and take-up means on one ofv said pulleys.

8. In combination, a ceramic furnace having a'heating chamber, `ulleys at .opposite fi ends of said furnace, and eXible parallel conveyor elements passing around said pulleys and driven thereby, said elements passing through said heating chamber at substantiallyl the same speed for carrying objects to be fired, said elements being unsupported beles tween said ulleys.

9. In combination, a ceramic furnace divided into two sections along a horizontal plane and having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a' conveyor adapted to carry 11o articles to be fired through said-passage, and means for raising the upper section of the furnace to permit inspection of work resting on the conveyor.

10. In combination, a ceramic furnace di- 11a vided into two sections along a horizontal plane and having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a conveyor adapted to carry artic-lesto be fired through said passage,and means for raising the upper section of the furnace to permit ins ection of work resting furnace being of the mulile type.

11. In combination, a ceramic furnace divided into two sections along a horizontal 12.5 plane and having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a conveyor adapted to carry articles to be lired through sald passage, and means for raising the upper section of thefurnace to permitinspection of work resting 13;@

moese@ on the conveyor, said furnacebeing of the muie type, the mue chambers of the upper and lower sections being connected by one or more passages which register when the 5 upper section is lowered.

12. In a ceramic f urnace, a furnace chamber having a longltudinal passage therethrough, a continuous integral flexible conveyor element adapted to carry Work through said furnace. 10 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of April, 1927.

JOSEPH A. DEDOUGH. 

